Atomic Information:

• Potassium has an atomic number of 19
• Its atomic mass is 39.10
• It is located in 3rd row and first column in the periodic table
• The atom has 2 electrons in the first shell, 8 in the second shell, 8 in the third and 1 in the last shell
• The necleus has 19 protons, 20 neutrons and 19 electrons

Atomic number	19
Atomic mass	39.0983 g.mol -1
Density	0.86 g.cm -3 at 0 °C
Melting point	63.2 °C
Boiling point	759 °C
Isotopes	5
Discovered by	Sir Davy in 1807

This table illustrates some basic information about the element.
Basic information:

• Potassium is a solid at room temperature.
• It belongs to the group alkali metals.
• It is a very reactive element which reacts extremely violently with water.
• It is therefore stored under oil to prevent it from reacting with water vapor in the air.
• Potassium is also the eighth most abundant element on Earth.
• Potassium is a soft and white metal.
• It is silvery when cut but quickly oxides.

Below is a color coded diagram of Bohr's model for a potassium atom

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